Supervising thermal system



Feb. 2, 1932.

I E. A..LOWE ET AL SUPERVISING THERMAL SYSTEM Filed July 20, 1927 Illllllllll'l lllll/ lllllll INVENTORS Ernesf A. Lowe BY Jah R. Ha l/fon mum; +49% ATT RNEY ERNEST A. LOWE AND JOHN R. HAMILTON, 'OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO, ABfiIGNOBS T AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER COMPANY OF AMERICA, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A COR POBATIGN OF DELAWARE SUPERVISIHG THERMAL SYSTEM Application filed July 20,

Our invention relates to that type of fire detecting apparatus in which increase of air pressure in the pipe is employed to control the action of mechanism whereby a tire extinguishing medium may be'supplied through a pipe or outlet for the purpose of extinguishing the fire or whereby a door or barrier'may be opened or closed or a signal given or other useful work performed in connection 30 with the control of the fire.

Our invention relates more particularly to means for supervising such system so that should it become impaired, as for instance through the accidental puncture, rupture or wilful removal or breakage of the piping through which the increase of air pressure is conveyed, a signal or indication, visible or audlble, will be given.

The invention relates particularly to a 29 system in which the tube for conveyance of the air pressure to the central point is a supplemental air tube and is connected in the fire area or zone preferably with air containers or bulbs wherein theair being heated and expanded by the fire or increase of tempera-ture in the fire zone operates through said tube upon the signal indicating or valve controlling apparatus at the central point or points of supervision.

While we have described our invention in connection with the use of the air bulb or container for producing directly an increase of pressure in the air tube, it will be under stood from the subjoined description that other means thermostatically controlled or operated might be employed for producing increase of pressure in said tube, as for instance in the manner described in the prior application for patent of E. A. Lowe, filed November 11, 1925, Serial No. (38.283, wherein a spring or other source of stored power adapted to actuate a bellows arrangement connected with the tubing is employed, and said bellows arrangement acts as the means for producing the increase of pressure when released for action through the. influence or control of a thermostat responsive to increase of heat in the fire zone or area to be protected}.

@ur invention consists essentially in main- 1927. Serial No. 207,096.

taining in said air tubing a normal pressure or plenum of air which will permit the transmission of the actuating impulse for the controlled mechanism but which also, on fractnrc or sudden leak in the tube, will bringabout a decrease of pressure upon a pressure responsive device whose response to the decrease of pressure is made effective throu h suitable apparatus for giving a signal in icating the presence of a break or defect in said tubing.

Our invention consists further in the s' e cial combinations of apparatus'hereina or more particularly described and then specified in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 shows in general diagrammatic fashion and in partial vertical section apparatus embodymg our invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a detail.

3 indicates the air tubing through which an increased pressure of air is conveyed for the purpose of controlling any suitable mechanism as will be hereinafter more particularly described. 7 According to our prescut invention said tubing contains air normally maintained under pressure above that of the normal atmospheric pressure and the means for producing the increased pressure therein by thermostatic action com rises in the preferred form of our invention ulbs or heat detecting units 2 of any desired number, preferably of metal, and containing comparatively large bodies of air adapted to respond to increase of temperature in the atmosphere surrounding said bulbs or units. These bulbs or units are in communication with the pipe 3 so that, as will be obvious, a heating of one of them will produce increase of pressure in the piping 3 which increase of pressure is conveyed to the devices to be presently described embodying as an essential part of them a means responsive to inheat therein.

4 indicates a diaphragm case or chamber connected with the piping 3 and 5 a flexible wall or dia hra m that in the present embodimento the invention is clamped tightly between fian es on the case a and chamber 5 4' below the diaphragm. Abypass 6 connects the piping 3 with a space below the diaphragmb as indicated and has in it a re stricted section or passageway 7. Should any increases of the normal pressure in 3 m be at a gradual or slow rate,and due for instance to changes of atmospheric tem erature, the restricted section 7 will permit the .,air to gradually leak or pass from 3 to' the space beneath the diaphragm 5 and e nullzation of pressures upon the opposite si es of the diaphragm will thereby be maintained and the diaphragm will remain at rest. Should however there be a sudden increase of pressure in 3, as for instance an increase due no to thermostatic action of a container 2, the

restricted section 7 will be inadequate to allow the accumulated pressure above the diaphragm to pass to the s ace below the diaphragm and become equa ized thereon and as as a result the diaphra 5 or other pressure responsive device wi be forced downwardly and, through devices to be presently described, will bring about the action of any suitable controllin mechanism for establishat ing a supply of re extinguishing medium which may ass to the main distributing piping the beginnin of which is indicated at 30, or may brin agout the operation of other devices usefu in controlling the fire. 8t Should sudden break or ru ture of the piping 3 occur, allowing a su den decrease of the pressure maintained therein the equalization of the pressures in the chamber with which pi ing 3 is connected directl and in the cham er aindirectl connectedt erewith through the restricts bypass will be destroyed and any pressure responsive device as for instance the diaphra m 5, subjected to the opposing pressures will be caused to move or res 0nd and this responsive movement we uti ize in the controllmg action of a suitable signalling or indicatin. device whereby the abnormal condition 0 the apparatus will be indicated, so that the same may lie-quickly repaired and the device restored to working condition immediately.

'lo convey or translate a movement of the pressure responsive device like diaphragm 5 to the mechanism whose controlling action is subject to the varying pressures we may employ the following devices.

9 is an arm in chamber a which ames through any suitable air-tight joint indicated at 19 and comprising, for instance, a'flexible diaphragm to which the arm is attached, said dia hragm itself being clam ed againstqa we 1 of the casing 4, as showngy mean eta threadedclampin member'20. Motionmay be communicated mm the dia hragm to the arm 9 through a suitable fieaib e member l0.

ed with t Obviously lever 9, being secured to the flem' ble diaphragm 19, may oscillate u ward or downward through the action of t e pressure responsive device 5. v

The air pressure required in the iping 3 may be supplied and maintained by evices similar to those described in our prior appliadapted to force air through a check valve and a globe valve 24'which may be opened when the air pressure is to be replenished and through ipe 27 into a chamber 14. Connectliis chamber or forming a wall thereof is a flexible diaphragm 12 which will be forced to the left b the increase of pressure in 14 due to the action of the pum A spindie or rod 13 carried by said diap ragm has a notched end that, by the movement of the diaphragm under increase of ressure in 14, will be carried over the end 0 lever 19 thus preventing the latter from either rising or alling during the process of pumping and replenishing the air. At the same time with the movement of the rod 13 which thus locks the lever 9, a collar 28 on a rod or extension on the inside of the diaphragm 12 and working in chamber 14 acts upon the bell crank lever 14 and lifts the valve 15 connected with said bell crank lever from its seat, thus rmitting the air forced into the chamber 14 by the pump to enter first the chamber d from which it escapes throu h the e ualizin vent 7 into the system of tu in 3 t ereby nally restoring the pressure in t e piping 3, at the same time permitting the pressure on the opposite sides of the diaphragm 5 to be final y equalized.

Movement of the rod 13 under the action its of dia hragm 12 also carries projecting arms 29 an 29 to the left-past la 18, 18 on the yoke 11, attached to the diap ragm 5 so that while the diaphragm 5 is in lifted position under the influence of the pressure in 44' and until the pressure becomes equalized on up posite'sides, the rod 13 will be prevented from receding from its position for lockin lever 9.' When however the pressure has ecome equalized the diaphragm 5 will resume the position shown in the drawings and the rod 13 will therefore be released and ermittm to return to the normal position by t e operation of the diaphra m 12 due to pressure of the air in the chem er 4 thus leaving the lever 9 in condition to respond to an increase of the established pressure in 3 or to a sudden decrease thereot in case of breakage of the pi%ng 3.

hen our invention is ap lied to the con trol of mechanism for supp ying fire extinguishing fluid to distributing iping such as 30 devices such as now to be 3 be employed.

escribed may a llltl llti . upper end of the collapsible chamber 38 is adapted'to be engaged by a. wei hted arm 39 31 and 32 I respectively indicate the two members of a difierential valve or valve working by bypass pressure applied to the back of member 31 through a passage 33 connecting with a source oi re extinguishing fluid supply 34 the assage of which into piping 30 is controlled y member 32 normally seated by the pressure of the bypass fluid acting on the greater area of 31. The relief of the bypass pressure through another and larger opening permits member 32 to be lifted by the pressure in 34. thus establishin connection between 34 and 30. Such reliei of pressure may be effected by means of valve 35 carried by rod 36 and controlling the escape of the fluid back of member 35 to an escape pi e 37. Valve rod 36 is normally held in lifte position, if desired b the spring action of a colla sible bellowsike member 18, preferably 0 metal, normally held distended or extended by its own resiliency assisted, if desired, by a spring. Said member is in the form of a chamber and has the outer end of said valve stem 36 attached or connected to it near its upper end. The lower end of said member or chamber surrounds the valve stem where it extends from the valve body and is sealed at such point thereby avoiding leakage and making it unnecessary to employ the usual packin for the stem which would interfere with t e free movement thereof. Thecarrying weight 22 and normal y restrained or held in lifted position by a detent or catch engaged by the end of the extension.21 from rod 9. A movement of said extension 21 upward obviously will free the arm 39 which will descend under the action of the weight and open the valve 35.

The mechanism controlled by the action of the arm 9 might also include or comprise,

if desired, means for giving a signal or alarm or other indication, for which purpose we may empl'o an electric circuit closer 40 adapted to e engaged by an arm extending from lever 39 when the latter drops and to close the circuit of a bell or indicator 41 therc-- by giving an audible indication of the fact that the apparatus has responded to increase of pressure above the normally maintained pressure in the piping 3. The means for indicating a sudden or abnormal drop of pres sure in 3 beyond the normally maintained pressure may comprise the hell or indicator ll controlled in its action through a lifting of the diaphragm 5 by means of the detent or catch on the outer end of lever 9 which is adapted, as shown, (see Fig. 2) to release arm 39 whenthe outer end 21 is depressed through lifting of the end within the casing 4. 1

The operation ofthe apparatus will be as follows:

Positive pressure of air subsisting in piping 3 will increase if the thermostatic members 2 or either of them are exposed to abnormal or sudden increase of heat. Such increased pressure will produce upon the upper side of pressure responsive diaphragm 5 pressure superior to that below the same since the bypass opening 7 will not allow air to pass at a sutjiiciently rapid rate to maintain the normal equalizations of pressures at the opposite sides of diaphragm 5. As a consequence the diaphragm 5 being depressed, will depress the inner end of lever 9 and lift the outer end 21, thus freeing the controlling mechanism. The weighted lever 39 will drop and open the valve 35 whereupon the valve 32 controlling the supply of fire extinguishing medium will open in obvious manner and with obvious result. Should a sudden decrease of pressure in the piping 3 occur through mechanical injury thereto the pressure in chamber 4 above the diaphragm 5 will suddenly decrease and said diaphragm will be lifted owing to the fact that there will be beneath the same a superior pressure. Said diaphragm thus responding to the decrease of pressure in 3 will lift the inner end of lever 9 thus depressing its outer endand releasing the wei hted lever 39 which will thereupon cause t e circuit of the bell or indicator 41 to be closed and a signal or indication of the breakage or abnormal condition of piping 3 indicated.

In the improved system shown and described it will be obvious that the condition of piessures, whether of air or liquid, in the iping 30, is immaterial and that by employmg increased pressures of air in a supplemental piping in which pressure is normally maintained and by the use of proper signalling or indicating devices we can not only supervise or keep under control readily the condition of air pressure in said supplemental piping but secure the further advantage that the maintenance of a pressure of air or other fiuid in the piping 30 is unnecessary and that we avoid the diflicultics due to the greaterliability of leaks or disturbances in those cases where the variations of air pressure in the distributing piping are employed in connection with the mechanism for establishing automatically a supply of the ii: e extinguish ing medium thereto.

VVhatwe claim as our invention is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of air tubing and air bulbs or containers connected therewith and containing air under pressure, said bulbs or containers being placed in lire zones and subjected to the heat condition thereof for allecting the pressure in said tubing, of a weighted actuating device normally held out of action and means for relay ng the same by either a sudden increase r decrease of the air pressure in said tubing.

2. in an apparatus of the character described, a supplemental system of air tubing containing air maintained at pressure greater than atmospheric pressure and provided with means in a fire zone for increasing said pressure in response to. an increase of temperature in said zone, valve controlling apparatus responsive to a sudden increase of said normal pressure due to actuation of said pressure varying means in the fire zone and signallin means responsive to a sudden decrease of t e normal pressure in said tubing due to break or leak 111 said air tubin 3. 1 a fire extinguishing a aratus, the combination with means control mg the su ply of fire extinguishing medium, supp emental air piping containing air under pressure and provided with means in a fire zone for increasing said pressure in response to an increase of temperature in said zone, means res onsive to a sudden increase of pressure in sea means mto action an means responsive to a sudden decrease of the pressure in said tubing upon breakage or interruption thereof for operating a signal for indlcating such abnormal condition.

4. In a fire extin uishing a paratus, the combination of a va ve control ply of fire extinguishing'medium, a supp mental pi in containing air under pressure and rovide with means in a fire zone for varying the pressure therein, a pressure responsive device responsive to a sudden variatlon of said normal ressure, means controlhug the action of said valve and adapted to cause the same to open in response to the action of the pressure responsive device when the pressure increases in said piping and means controlled by said pressure responsive device for automatically indicating a decrease. of the normal pressure in said piping.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a main valve and its control means controlling the admission of fire extinguishing mediumsto a system of piping, a supplemental air tubing containing air norma 1y under pressure and leading from the fire zone to said control means, said tubing including means in the fire zone-for increasing the pressure therein, a device responsive to either increase or decrease of pressure in said supplemental piping due respectively to thermal action or to presence of a leak in the piping and means controlled by said pressure responsive device for actuating the control means to cause the main valve to open whenever there is an increase of pressure in said tubing and for giving a signal or indication on variation of pressure therein due to breakage or. leak in the tubing.

t. In a system of the character described, the combination with, a main valve controlling the aission of tire extinguishing me piping for brin 'ng said controlling aaeaeee di to the main piping, a supplemental system of air piping containing air under ressure and terminating in a chber cld y a pressure responsive diaphr 1'1. said system of air piping extending to a fire zone and including devices for increasing the pressure therein responsive to an increase of temperature in said zone, a ricted by from said tubina to a s ace at the opposite side of said diaphrador balancing t e effect of the normally maintain pressure in said piping upon the diaphra a means controlled by said diaphragm r en it responds to sudden increase of pressure in the piping for causing the main valve to open and means for giving a signal or indication of the movement of said iaphragm in the op osite direction due to sudden decrease 0 normal pressure in said supplemental piping.

Signed at Cleveland in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio this 12 day of July hug the sulp- Elli are

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